At one time there used to be 40,000 members in the Arabian Horse Association (2009 numbers) so needless to say this is big business and Brandon is fortunate to have the National Arabian Horse & Half Arabian Championships at the Keystone Centre. When you talk through the halls at the Keystone you really understand the complex planning and details that go behind the scenes to make sure an event happen. So today we had a chance to speak to their Director of Marketing Julian McPeak. BDNMB – People assume when you live in Brandon that you live eat and sleep AG and horse business, however I am a total novice with something like this, can you give our readers an idea what kind of money it costs for these people to participate at this show? Julian – It varies some people own their own trucks – they train their horses and own their horses they would have to spend $8000 - $10,000 (they call these people the DOERS) Then the other group of people have professional year round trainers – they pay for their horse to come – and pay for drivers, etc. and that could get as high as $20,000. BDNMB – This is the 6th year for Brandon so where is the next stop and what are some of the pro’s and con’s of Brandon? Julian – We host shows in Ok City – Tulsa – Raleigh but mainly we look for cities that have ag communities. We have specific needs and facilities. It has to be clean and safe for our horses and and we need two covered arenas and also arenas to work the horses. The exhibitors would like restaurants near by which the Keystone Centre has. It is unique because everything is indoors and we really like the staff they help us so much. BDNMB – What kind of feedback do you get about Brandon …. I have been to all those cities you mentioned and they are much larger and have more to offer people? Julian - Overall everyone is happy our people are happy when locals flock in the doors and see the horses and shows. These people come to show horses and not for a holiday. We do like the community support. In bigger cities we don’t really see that. Of note we spoke to the owner of Brown’s Social House, Blake Trotter, and he mentioned that this event was by far one of best. He said that they have had dozens of people tell his staff that they did appreciate the support that Brown’s gave their fans and participants.  

Every Thursday evening from now ’til end of season, Dave Barnes will be leading a Nature Walk on the AFFI trail system, freshly cleared of debris and risky overhanging limbs this weekend! Tours depart from Crow’s General Store at 7 pm, loop through the Ancient Oaks trails, and return to Crow’s by 8:30 pm via the maple woods and 17th St dike road. The whole family will be fascinated to learn about Nature’s secrets from this experienced teacher – lessons on permaculture, wetland regeneration, trees, birds, and wildlife ecology will have you coming back for more, just like Crow’s delicious ice cream! Recommended: drinking water, hat, bug spray, camera, binoculars. This event is running from 18 August 2016 until 22 September 2016. It is next occurring on 18 August 2016 7:00 pm. Upcoming Dates: 18 August 2016 7:00 pm 25 August 2016 7:00 pm 1 September 2016 7:00 pm 8 September 2016 7:00 pm 15 September 2016 7:00 pm 22 September 2016 7:00 pm

Courtesy:  Keystone Centre BRANDON, MB (August 15, 2016) – The Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show returns to Brandon, Manitoba for the sixth year! Join the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) as they celebrate the beauty and versatility of Arabian & Half-Arabian horses, in Canadian style and flair. The show began, Sunday, August 14 and runs through Saturday, August 20 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. Standing alone as the only AHA championship show that offers a full range of competition with Canadian flair, Arabian horse trainers, exhibitors and their horses travel from all over Canada and the United States to participate. Spectators can enjoy over 200 different classes in youth, western, dressage, hunter and English disciplines, and much more. Class sessions begin at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively. Admission and parking for the horse show is FREE to the general public. Also, be sure to celebrate Armed Forces Day with us on Friday, August 19. Come watch the show and support Canadian and U.S. military troops by wearing red all day long. A special flag presentation will be exhibited just prior to the evening session. If you are interested in learning more about Arabian horses, join us at the show for our FREE Total Arabian Interactive Learning (T.A.I.L.) tours held on the grounds. Tours will be given Thursday, August 18 at 6 p.m.; Friday, August 19, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and Saturday, August 20, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. T.A.I.L Tours give an insider perspective of the Arabian breed and the horse show. To reserve your spot on a tour please email youth@arabianhorses.org or call 303.597.8251. Plus, travel back in time and learn a little history of the Arabian breed in a mini-museum exhibit, which tells visitors more about the Arabian horse. Tours and the museum exhibit are FREE to the public. As the premier, Canadian event for Arabian horses, this show is the culmination of dedication, hard work and big dreams. Amateur and professional exhibitors alike come together to put on an impressive display of the magic and versatility of the Arabian breed. About the Keystone Centre The non-profit Keystone Centre strives to be the premier service oriented, mufti-functional, community minded facility in Manitoba, hosting sporting and entertainment events, fairs and agricultural exhibitions, conferences and conventions, clubs and community activities. To learn more about the Keystone Centre visit www.keystonecentre.com. Neil Thomson                                                                    Julian McPeak General Manager                                                            Media Manager Keystone Centre                                                             Canadian Nationals Show (204) 726-3506                                                                  julian.mcpeak@arabianhorses.org  

BDNMB.ca is pleased to once again award a great prize package to one lucky contest winner consisting of a $600 Dyson upright vacuum and $100 towards your house or apartment cleaning. The vacuum is being supplied by our good friends over at Direct Liquidation while Amber's Reliable House Cleaning is providing the $100 credit towards the cleaning of your home or apartment. Entering this Back to School promotion is simple. All you need to do is to head over to our Facebook page and either like or share the promotion and you will automatically be entered. Draw date will be September 1st at 4:00 pm.  

An Erickson man may want to shout in triumph but his doctors would prefer that he allow himself time to adapt to his new lungs. Nick Ewasiuk of Erickson has suffered with cystic fibrosis since childhood. As his condition has worsened, the 28 year old was given a no travel order, restricting him to Winnipeg for the past several months so that he would be readily available if donor lungs became available. He was flown to Edmonton urgently last week for a double lung replacement that will save his life. It has been 30 years since the world’s first successful double lung transplant was performed in Toronto and the number of the procedures in the years since numbers in the hundreds. In 2006, 129 double lung transplants were performed in Canada, in 2012 that number was 232. Based on a 2009 report from the John Hopkins School of Medicine, it has been found that for cystic fibrosis a double transplant is more effective and offers a greater long term advantage for the patient. But it’s important to note that transplants don’t cure the disease, as the gene responsible still exists in cells throughout the body except for the transplanted organ. Still, the survival rate for this procedure is encouraging, extending the lives of patients for years. The five year survival rate stands at 67%, while half of transplant recipients have enjoyed more than a decade of good health after receiving new lungs. For Ewasiuk, who was reached at the hospital in Edmonton where he is still in recovery from the July 29 operation, he is encouraged by how things have gone so far. Just five days removed from the major surgery, Nick was up for physiotherapy, performing step ups and calf raises. “It’s been a hectic few days so far, but recovery seems to be going good,” says Nick. “Surgery took about seven-ish hours and I was on a ventilator for about ten hours after that. After they took it out, I was on room air almost immediately. It’s been crazy how well things have been going.” However, while the recuperation period seems to be on track, the time spent hospitalized has created a significant financial impact for the young man. To help offset costs, the family has established a GoFundMe crowd funding campaign to ease the stress of financial pressures, allowing Nick to focus fully on his recovery and eventual release from the hospital. Those interested to help with the fund-raising effort can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/2hl10jw